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11-13-17 PC Minutes � Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission November 13, 2017 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Monday, November 13, 2017. Vice Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:19 pm. Those present were Planning Commissioners Black, Blum, Johnson, Segelbaum and Waldhauser. Also present were Finance Director Sue Virnig, Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman, and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman. Commissioners Baker and Blenker were absent. 1. Approval of Minutes October 9, 2017, Special Planning Commission Meeting MOVED by Waldhauser, seconded by Segelbaum and motion carried unanimously to approve the October 9, 2017, Special Planning Commission minutes as submitted. October 23, 2017, Regular Planning Commission Meeting Johnson said he wanted it noted that he thinks Tax Increment Financing (TIF) discounts the value of Golden Valley. MOVED by Waldhauser, seconded by Segelbaum and motion carried 3 to 1 to approve the October 23, 2017, Regular Planning Commission minutes as submitted. Commissioner Blum abstained. 2. Presentation of Capital Improvement Program 2018-2022 — Sue Virnig, City Finance Director Virnig noted that the sections in the CIP include vehicles and equipment, parks, Brookview Golf Course, buildings (general buildings and cablecasting), storm water utility, water and sanitary sewer, streets, and the appendix. Virnig highlighted some of the projects from each section of the CIP including: a new fire pumper, lighting at Isaacson Park with funding from a Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant, tennis court construction at Wesley Park, community gardens in 2019 and 2021, an off-leash dog park, a new restaurant and pro shop along with other amenities at Brookview Community Center, a City Hall boiler replacement, carpet replacement in the second floor hallway of City Hall, remodeling of the Council Chambers, projects that will reduce flooding in the Decola Ponds area, sanitary sewer replacement and maintenance coinciding with the Pavement Management Program, additional flashing yellow arrows, and bike trails per the Bicycle and Pedestrian task force recommendations. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission November 13, 2017 Page 2 Black asked how certain the City is that it will receive grant money. Virnig stated that the City received a grant for lighting at Isaacson Park in the past and is hoping to get another one in the future. Segelbaum asked if anything has been significantly delayed due to funds being short. Virnig stated that the 2020-2021 Pavement Management Program will have to be extended to 2021 through 2023. Blum thanked staff for the work that has gone into the CIP and asked if the Planning Commission is supposed to do a constructive review of the plan or just confirm that it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Virnig stated that the Planning Commission's role is to review the plan and state whether it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan or not. Zimmerman added that the Planning Commission will have more opportunity to provide oversight as the 2040 Comprehensive Plan is implemented. Waldhauser asked if there is flexibility in funding sewer replacement and maintenance differently. Virnig stated that the City may have to consider an additional franchise fee as an alternate funding source. Black noted that some of the funds are being depleted and asked if that is a normal trend. Virnig explained several of the funds and explained that the funds are looked at every year for a five year period. Blum said he struggles with understanding how the average citizen can digest this plan. He said it would be useful to highlight issues that the City has received feedback on and to show that those issues are being translated into budget items. Virnig stated that the Communications Department could highlight the infrastructure plan and further discuss Tax Increment Financing. Zimmerman suggested that CityNews articles tie back to the Comprehensive Plan and the CIP and how it all works together. Johnson referred to the joint commission meeting held in January regarding infrastructure needs and goals and stated that his take away from that meeting was that the City would need almost double the money for infrastructure projects. Now when he looks at this CIP it doesn't look like there is enough money dedicated to infrastructure. Virnig referred to the Pavement Management Program and the infrastructure plan that looks at infrastructure further into the future. Blum said he was happy to hear that the City is getting away from bond financing and said that seems more fiscally responsible to him. Virnig stated that she worries about levy limits being brought back and the possibility of municipal bonds being taxable. Waldhauser questioned how cities can generate funds moving forward and questioned if there are ways other than levies to generate funds such as using a sales tax. Virnig stated that the City would have to go to the legislature to implement a sales tax. Blum noted that a lot of important expenditures are funds and said he thinks the City doesn't take advantage of some of its green infrastructure. He suggested that it might be Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission November 13, 2017 Page 3 worthwhile to create a special fund for greenery and trees because it would cost less to have green infrastructure. He added that one of the most heard comments in the city survey was green issues and being good environmental stewards so he thinks it would be a service to the citizens to have a budget item for green infrastructure. Virnig noted that the Environmental Commission follows through on a lot of the "green" issues. She stated that there are several green items spread throughout the CIP they just aren't in one section. Waldhauser agreed that calling out the green items and making it more visible is a good idea and sometimes a cheaper way to do some things. Waldhauser asked if narrower streets, curb bump-outs, and rain gardens are considered during the pavement management projects. Zimmerman stated that those things among others are considered whenever possible. Johnson referred to page 92 and asked about the item regarding 1.5 miles of rehab on Winnetka Avenue. Virnig explained that project is lining the water mains from Medicine Lake Road to Highway 55 in conjunction with a CenterPoint project. Blum referred to the Janalyn Pond lift station project and questioned if there might be ways to mitigate needing a pump there with less expensive plantings and if the City would be better served by looking at solutions that will cost less money in the long term. Virnig said she would have to defer to the City Engineer about what alternatives there might be. Johnson referred to page 108 and questioned the three major expenditures regarding Xenia Avenue and Golden Hills Drive. Virnig stated that Xenia Avenue and Golden Hills Drive improvements are paid for through assessments. Blum referred to page 72 and noted that it looks like the City is paying $500,000 for carpet replacement. Virnig stated that this is in draft form and will be changed. Black asked if it is less expensive for the City to provide for a large development or a small development. Virnig stated that not every development needs assistance from the City so it really depends on the project. Johnson stated that as the City offers TIF it foregoes the tax revenue and increases the use of the infrastructure. Zimmerman stated that the City misses out on the increase in tax value for a certain time but without TIF the City might not have gotten some of the developments at all. Virnig added that commercial properties help with the City's fixed costs and job creation and that the City reaps the benefits of the building permits so there is so much more that these developments bring to the City. Waldhauser questioned if there should be something in the CIP about the new community center. Virnig stated that the community center is part of the General Fund and Special Other Funds. She added that it is a special revenue fund and that they will pay their expenditures. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission November 13, 2017 Page 4 Blum referred to the Cable Commission and noted that cities are paying millions of dollars to keep the local N station going when there are perhaps other tools that are more cost effective and will reach more people. He asked if any thought has been given to phasing that out. Virnig noted that Council Member Clausen is a representative on the Cable Commission and that they have many statistics about the viewership. She added that there is a franchise fee for the cable equipment and that tax dollars are not used. Waldhauser added that many residents watch the cable TV channel programs and meetings that are televised. MOVED by Waldhauser, seconded by Segelbaum and motion carried unanimously to recommend approval of the 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program as it is consistent with the goals and policies of Golden Valley's Comprehensive Plan. --Short Recess-- 3. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other Meetings Zimmerman stated that Tennant has withdrawn all of their recently submitted planning applications. Zimmerman stated that a new Planning Commissioner has been appointed and will be attending the next Planning Commission meeting. 4. Other Business • Council Liaison Report Schmidgall stated that Globus Development came to the last City Council meeting and presented the assisted living component of the project which will be a real asset to the community. Schmidgall stated that the grand opening for Brookview is December 1. 5. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 pm. , � � � � _ Ron m, Secretary Lis ittman, Administrative Assistant